Top 100 Media
Top 100 First Take: Gav Harmer on Atletico's Ambition
Podcast Episode Summary
In the inaugural episode of the Top 100 podcast series, host Regan Thompson chats with Atlético Madrid manager Gav Harmer, a “real life legend” and “veteran of the game” who is part of the 1,000-game club.
Gav reflects on Atlético Madrid’s heartbreaking end to last season, where they missed out on a playoff place due to an 89th-minute goal from Tyrone Mings — “in the last minute of the game”. Despite the setback, he remains optimistic for the future, saying his side is “starting to get better, get bigger, bigger ratings” and that “things are looking good.”
The conversation then turns to key player movements:
- The successful acquisition of Pedro, now “banging them in for Chelsea.”
- The “big move” of Ilya Zabarnyi to PSG, with his stock expected to rise quickly.
- Angelo Stiller, described as “too good for Stuttgart.”
- Robert Sánchez, who has regained his “number one spot” at Chelsea.
Looking ahead, Gav recognises the tough competition awaiting in Division Two. Strong sides like Sporting Lisbon, Espanyol, Tottenham, and Cologne have all come down from Division One, while clubs like CSKA Moscow and Augsburg are coming up from Division Three.
His strategy is firmly focused on developing his current squad, explaining he’s “very happy with the team” and doesn’t expect much transfer activity “unless something major happens.” He likens the journey to “taking two steps back to take one forward.”
The episode wraps up with Gav praising the community spirit and offering a big thank you to David Marsden for his “absolutely fantastic” work on the archive.
Very Brief Timeline Guide
- The Near Miss: Atlético Madrid’s playoff heartbreak and the infamous Tyrone Mings last-minute goal.
- New Season Challenges: Insights into strong relegated sides from Division One, new arrivals from Division Three, and big transfer moves (Pedro, Zabarnyi, Stiller, Sánchez).
- Future Outlook: Gav’s development-first strategy, his “two steps back” philosophy, and appreciation for community contributions like David’s archive.
S25 Youth Cup: Goal-Filled Matches and Admin Drama!
YOUTH CUP GOAL FEST! Roster Blunders Spark ADMIN CRACKDOWN in S25 Opener!
By Our Man with the Notepad, Sideline Sid
SOUTHALL, ENGLAND - Sunday Morning
BANG! The S25 Youth Cup roared into life last night, serving up a feast of goals, dazzling performances, and enough off-pitch drama to make your head spin – even the Game World Administrator had to step in after some major squad sheet slip-ups! Strap yourselves in!
GOAL GLUT! BARCA & ESPANYOL RUN RIOT!
Where do we even start?! How about Barcelona, eh? Young Samu Aghehowa put Sevilla to the SWORD in a stunning 5-1 demolition! The Spanish sensation bagged TWO goals and laid on THREE assists! Boss Adam called him MOTM – no arguments here! "Glad to start with a win," beamed the boss!
Not to be outdone, Glen Mullan's Espanyol lads absolutely pulverised Olympiacos 5-0! Endrick nabbed a brace, but Facundo Bounanotte was the star – a goal AND three assists! "One way traffic!" hailed the gaffer, "extremely pleased!"
Elsewhere, Juventus dished out a 5-1 hiding to West Brom away, Bayern Munich whacked Valencia 5-0, Leicester smashed Udinese 4-0, and Man City & Dynamo Moskva both bagged tidy 3-0 wins! Talk about laying down a marker!
SPURS EDGE EIGHT-GOAL THRILLER!
Hold onto your hats! Pedro Vilar's Tottenham kids went to Atalanta and won a crazy 5-3 goal-fest! "Great start... massive winning!" declared the happy Spurs boss. What a match!
ADMIN CRACKDOWN! Marsden Reveals Roster Rule-Breakers!
RED FACES & RULE REMINDERS! Drama off the pitch as FIVE clubs – Independiente, West Brom, Crystal Palace, Chievo, and Everton – were caught out by eligibility rules! It seems simple squad selection errors were likely to blame – managers forgetting the crucial step of swapping senior players out for their designated youth cup squads! An easy mistake to make, but a costly one!
PRIZE DRAW PAIN! The gaffers of the five teams, due to the eligibility breach, have FORFEITED their chance to win the coveted end-of-season new player prize draw! A sharp reminder from the top brass to double-check those team sheets before hitting submit!
We already saw Independiente's match defaulted 0-3 after their boss admitted the error. It looks like the other teams avoided score changes this time, but couldn't escape the Admin's sharp eye when it came to the prize draw rules! Tough, but fair!
GAFFERS SOUND OFF!
Sir Stephen Beddows (Sampdoria): Hailed "Super Samp" after their 2-1 win and blooding a 15-year-old debutant! One for the future!
Dan Wallace (Man Utd): So chuffed with his U21s cruising 3-0 past Lyon, he might throw 'em in against Leverkusen TONIGHT! Gutsy!
Chris Meida (CSKA): Gutted with a 1-1 draw vs Milan despite a "strong display". That Konate penalty was their only reward.
David Marsden (Hamburger SV): (Speaking as manager this time!) Delighted with a "great team effort" seeing off Leverkusen 3-2 with a late winner! A good day at the office for him both on and off the virtual pitch!
TABLES TELL A TALE!
After the goal frenzy, Bayern edge Barca on goal difference in A, Espanyol lead B, Juve pip Feyenoord in C. And the teams caught by the Admin's ruling? Palace, Chievo, Everton prop up their groups pointless after 0-3 defeats, while West Brom also lick their wounds after that 5-1 loss. A double blow after the admin errors!
FINAL WHISTLE!
Phew! What a start! Goals, drama, and the Admin already busy laying down the law while also celebrating a win! The S25 Youth Cup has it ALL! Check those team sheets, gaffers – Big Brother Marsden is watching! Don't take your eyes off this space!
Top Performers and Underachievers in Season 25
Top 100 Season 25 Six Match Review
Six matches into Season 25, the highly competitive Top 100 game world is already offering plenty of intrigue. It's still early in the 38-game campaign (current in-game date Thu 1 May 2025), but comparing the action to pre-season expectations (including "Malcolm's Stats" by Sevilla manager Mister TRX, 8th historically), historical manager performance, and last season's trophy winners reveals some fascinating early narratives. Here’s an overview of who’s hitting the ground running, who’s stumbling, and potential reasons why.
Division 1: São Paulo Lead; Reigning Champs Verona Off Pace
Fittingly, the game world's top-ranked manager historically, Scott Mckenzie, has São Paulo leading (16 pts), though he acknowledged needing more despite staying unbeaten after a 2-2 draw at Sporting. Just behind are kevin mcgregor's Juventus (15 pts, 39th historically), last season's Top 100 Shield winners, who suffered their first loss 1-2 at home against Doug Earle's impressive Leicester (6th). McGregor admitted he "would of bitten your hand off if said this was the start I was going to get," showing perspective despite the setback. Adam's Barcelona (5th, 40th historically, S24 Super Cup winners) also look dangerous, spearheaded by the sensational G. Rodrygo (leading D1 with 5 goals and 6 assists). Manager Adam noted his key attackers are "getting amongst the goals more... hope they can keep it going."
The biggest divergence from Malcolm's Stats is the form of Dario Saviano's Dortmund (17th, 28th historically) and, more surprisingly, Luís André Libras-Boas's Hellas Verona (12th, 5th historically). Predicted as title contenders, their struggles are stark – especially for Verona as reigning Division 1 champions. It suggests either the pre-season analysis overrated their readiness or established managers are finding the tactical battles tougher this term. Even James Mckenzie (2nd historically, S24 SMFA Shield winner) finds Chelsea slightly off pace in 8th. Fellow S24 trophy winners André Guerra (Porto, SMFA Champions Cup - 10th) also sit mid-table.
How are last season's promoted sides adapting? Last season's D2 champions Aston Villa (David Inglis, 18th historically) are currently 14th. D2 play-off winners Tottenham (Pedro Vilar, 67th) are exceeding early expectations in 11th after beating Espanyol 3-2, a result Mullan (Espanyol) felt robbed by. Regan Thompson's Hertha BSC (44th historically), S24 Top 100 Cup winners, are currently 18th.
At the bottom, Gursimran Brar (11th historically) sees Köln last as forecast, while Espanyol and Hertha join them. Espanyol's Mullan expressed frustration after the Spurs loss, citing hitting the post multiple times and injuries.
Division 2: Leverkusen Deliver, West Brom Flounder, Schick Flies
Marco G's Leverkusen (1st, 16 pts, 59th historically) are impressively living up to their favourites tag from the predictions, dispatching Udinese 4-1 with Koopmeiners (7 goals) instrumental. Behind them are Standard Liège (2nd, 12 pts), managed by Attilio Bonnici (69th historically), who are performing well after winning the D3 title last season, despite a shock 1-0 loss at Genoa. For 3rd place Hamburger SV, manager David Marsden (41st historically) felt they "Totally dominated a strong Stoke side" but needed a late Casemiro goal for a 1-1 draw. Atlético (Gav Harmer) and Stoke (Andrew Kelly, 4th historically) are also in the mix.
The season's biggest shock remains paddy d's West Brom (16th historically). Tipped for glory by the stats, now rooted in 20th. This drastic underperformance raises questions about their high-profile recruitment strategy. Conversely, RJ Alston's Southampton (8th, 24th historically) and Jamie Alldridge's Schalke (12th, 35th) are comfortably mid-table, defying predictions of a relegation scrap. Man Utd (Dan Wallace, 25th) are struggling near the bottom (17th) as expected during their rebuild phase.
Last season's D3 play-off winners Udinese Calcio (6th), managed by Neil Frankland (23rd historically), are also competing effectively in the top half after promotion.
Individuals: Benfica's Patrik Schick is the standout scorer across all divisions with 9 goals, while Southampton's Houssem Aouar leads D2 assists with 8.
Division 3: CSKA & Flamengo Top; Dnipro Still Surprise
Newer manager Chris Meida (71st) has CSKA leading (1st, 15 pts), alongside Carl Martin's Flamengo (55th historically), though Flamengo stumbled with a shock 3-0 loss at Saint-Etienne, with Martin citing key player absences. Mike Scallotti (10th historically) has Everton (3rd, 13 pts) well-placed, fulfilling their predicted potential.
The remarkable story is Everton Luiz's Dnipro (5th, 11 pts, 81st historically). Tipped for relegation by Malcolm's Stats, their strong start suggests effective tactics or perhaps being underestimated. Fiorentina's D. Mota leads scoring (6 goals) but his team (15th) underwhelms. Predicted promotion candidates Anderlecht (Walter Gogh, 27th) and PSG (Josh McMillan, 21st) need improvement.
How are last season's promoted teams settling into D3? Zenit Saint Petersburg (4th), managed by Christian RC 1914 (82nd) after winning D4 last year, have adapted excellently. AS Saint-Etienne (13th), under Carlos Miranda (77th) and promoted via D4 play-off, showed their potential by beating Flamengo.
At the bottom, Chris Mackenzie's Basel (52nd historically) struggle as predicted, joined by Hoffenheim and Shakhtar.
Division 4: Predictions in Disarray as New Leaders Emerge
This division completely contradicts the pre-season forecast. ruts66 (7th historically) leads with Feyenoord (14 pts), alongside Stuart Monteith's Montpellier (14 pts, 56th historically). Dynamo Moskva (Paul Rimmer, 59th) are 3rd, performing as predicted for a playoff spot. Córdoba, Salah, and Blanco share the goals lead (5).
The biggest head-scratchers are Mister TRX's Sevilla (8th historically, now 17th) and Hugo Costa's Celtic (50th historically, now 14th). Despite TRX crafting the very stats predicting his team for the title, he admits "things haven't really gone to plan." Are the established managers/squads struggling tactically, or were they simply overrated? Conversely, Melvin Udall's Werder Bremen (5th, relatively new, 91st) are defying their relegation prediction admirably.
Two teams promoted from D5 last season are now competing here: Last season's D5 winners Beşiktaş JK (yamil Mc02, 74th) are finding their feet in 15th. D5 play-off winners Olympiacos (Ricardo Ferreira, 66th) have started well and sit 7th after hitting four goals last night.
At the bottom, Murilo's Celta Vigo (new, 90th) are last, as their expected struggles materialise, joined by Sassuolo and Crystal Palace.
Division 5: Partizan Lead Tight Pack Chasing Promotion
Relative newcomer Marc Ques (79th historically) has Partizan setting the early pace (15 pts), followed closely by Bruno Neto^^'s Lyon (14 pts, 83rd). The managers predicted to dominate, Gianluca Ghio (Independiente, 5th, 57th historically) and Ignazio Barraco (Marseille, 7th, 34th), find themselves in the chasing pack but haven't asserted dominance yet. Independiente possess the division's top scorer in Trincão (7 goals). Nick Wheels' Spartak Moskva (3rd, 48th) are meeting their playoff prediction, with João Mário leading assists (6).
Perhaps most interestingly, the relegation picture defies Malcolm's Stats. Predicted strugglers Atalanta (Chris Taylor, 80th), Chievo (Carlos Azevedo, 86th), and Athletic Club (Wayne Bullough, 45th) are currently safe. Instead, Santos (Paolo Everland, 84th), Bordeaux (Sheene Ralspunsky, 81st - actively signing players), and PSV (Chris East, 57th) find themselves unexpectedly in the bottom three.
Overall Conclusion (Early Stages)
After just six games, Season 25 is proving highly competitive and often unpredictable, challenging many pre-season expectations based on Malcolm's Stats and even historical manager performance. While some favourites like Leverkusen are delivering, others like West Brom, Sevilla, Dortmund, and reigning D1 champions Hellas Verona are significantly underperforming. Standout individuals like Rodrygo (D1), Schick (D2), and Trincão (D5) are lighting up their divisions. Teams like Dnipro and Werder Bremen are providing early surprise packages. With 32 games still to play, there's ample time for fortunes to change, but the initial phase has certainly provided plenty of talking points and suggests that reputation and predictions count for little once the whistle blows.
Bayern Baseline
Hear all about Mr Stability's vision for long-term success and stability in Division One.
Der Dino Dynasty
All the ins and outs, ups and downs and roundabouts of what it takes to manage a club Top 100: must do better.
Arsenal Aristocracy
Comparing and contrasting the Michael Bowles era with the massively successful Heath Brown reign at the Emirates.
Espanyol Evolution
The rise and fall, and rise again of Espanyol, with a focus on two of their most esteemed managers, Doug Earle and current boss Glen Mullan.
This podcast was created by AI (Google NotebookLM), based on blog posts by Doug and Glen on their time at the club. AI makes mistakes, so it may not be wholly accurate.
The Leicester Legend
Another edition of the podcast, this time charting the story of Leicester City's rise from a club adrift in Division Four to the top ten in Division One and Youth Cup winners this season under tyro manager Doug Earle.
If you've ever been 'Douged' in the market you'll want to listen to this. If you've never been 'Douged' you'll want to listen to this.
Levante Legacy
Drawing on the wealth of blog posts provided by their three managers over 23 seasons of Top 100, here's a celebratory podcast discussing the club's (mostly) ups and downs, and how the team has transformed from Division Five no hopers alongside (then) Espanyol (who else?!) to a Division One team and powerhouse youth academy.
S23 Sackings and Reappointments?
Here's the follow-up to this morning's episode on some possible end of season managerial moves according to gossip rags and the Top 100 WhatsApp group.
A closer look at the clubs heading for the sack and who will or won't be reappointed.
Remember, what's in this podcast is not the final decision of the Admin Team, and not based on all the available evidence and data. But it gives a pretty good idea of the process and what's involved. It's all AI generated (Google Notebook LM) and it gets some things wrong.
Top 100 Talk S23 End of Season
Rumours, rumours and outright tabloid nonsense from across the pond. Just a bit of fun. Don't take it too seriously, or personally.
Top100 TV - Season 16 - Final Countdown Preview - Division 4
Short 15 minute video previewing gameday 37 and 38 in Division 4. Season 16.
Fixtures final day
Top 100 TV - Season 16 - Episode 3
Watch as Beddows, Mclean and Walter Gogh discuss their seasons the youth cup, transfers and the merits of doing them or not and importantly their own picks for "Thomas Tuchels" and "Ronald Koemans"
Top 100 TV - Transfers Special
A Top 100 Transfers special this week as I was joined by Doug Earle & Nick Justice.
Brilliant guests for this episode, thanks to both for joining me!